Actually, non-contract status is something that's being done more and more in these days of buget-conscious-daytime-production. Recently several GH actors were asked to drop to non-contract status (though some (like Kristina Wagner) chose to leave the show instead). However, in Kathy Cody's case one has to remember that her situation was different. She was used heavily in the Summer of 1970 period but less so in 1840, not because she wasn't under contract, but because the unavailability of David Henesy left the writers scrambling to find something to do with her. At least when it came to 1841PT, Henesy's absence was no longer at issue.
But anyway, here's but one write-up from the daytime magazines (this dated July 1972) that references Cody's DS contract status:
Beautiful Kathleen Cody, who just one year ago was under contract to one of the most popular soaps in daytime history, Dark Shadows, where she played the dual roles of Hallie/Carrie Stokes ("I loved my time on the show"), now finds herself the lucky recipient of a contract for a three picture deal at Disney. Eighteen now and living with her folks in New York, she'll be returning to Hollywood soon for her next Disney assignment...And in case anyone is interested, her three Disney films were:
- Snowball Express (1972)
- Charley and The Angel (1973)
- Superdad (1974)